Popular video-sharing site YouTube.com in conjunction with the House and Senate on Monday launched two new platforms aimed at helping increase citizens' access to members' YouTube channels: The Senate Hub and the House Hub. Steve Grove, head of YouTube's news and politics offerings, said in a blog post that the new services "have the potential to make Congress more transparent and accessible than ever before -- but only if citizens continue to connect and engage with their government." Watch a special message from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader John Boehner, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell above.

The Senate Rules Committee and House Administration Committee each adopted changes to their chambers' Internet usage regulations last year to clarify the circumstances under which members are allowed to place content on external Web sites. The process was a somewhat benign one in the Senate but was hotly debated in the House. In July, Boehner and Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., who chairs the Commission on Mailing Standards, traded blows over proposals that were under consideration. Read CongressDaily's coverage of that debate and here.